Lessons Taught and Learned

For Amanda Akdemir ’13, her personal mission has always been clear: make a difference in the lives of others. Throughout her time at the Pace University School of Education, she has found new and exciting ways to make a real difference in the lives of others.

Akdemir transferred to Pace after completing an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Rockland Community College. After taking a few education courses there, she was hooked. “I applied to Pace University because I was advised that the School of Education was fabulous and had a great relationship with RCC and that my credits would transfer over very smoothly,” she says. “I can say with great confidence that I am happy I made the decision to come to Pace.”

Akdemir graduated from Pace’s five-year combined degree program in 2013 with BA in Childhood education and an MS in Educational Technology. She was the Vice President of Pi Lambda Theta, an education honor society and professional organization.

One of the key highlights, she says, is getting into local schools so early in the program. “It has allowed for me not only to create relationships amongst districts and their communities, but also to gain such a vast range of insights that I have been able to build upon through my courses and experience,” Akdemir says.

Akdemir was also a student intern and substitute teacher in a unique school environment, the Mount Pleasant Blythedale School District, a K-12 school for children with special medical needs at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. “It has given me a good handle on several different situations from both the elementary and secondary standpoints,” she says.

Akdemir has previously student-taught classes in the second and fourth grade in another Westchester district. “I love being in the classroom and it is absolutely true that this is where most of your learning takes place,” she says.

As part of her Educational Technology degree program, she has engaged in a wide variety of projects, including website development, applying for technology grants, and implementing the broad use of an interactive multimedia iPad app for Blythedale’s special needs students, along with professional development for faculty. Her experience is one that has definitely opened her eyes to the challenges in education—meeting the needs of all students.

“Especially in my current environment, simultaneously adapting to the needs of such diverse learners is definitely not an easy task,” she says. But, she continues, “I think that the greatest reward comes when those needs are met. The satisfaction that comes along [with that] is an unmatched feeling that makes every effort worthwhile.”

Akdemir has also had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children, internationally. She was one of six students who traveled to Guatemala for a week in February 2013 to present at the 9th International Literacy Conference in Guatemala City. In addition to scholarly pursuits, the students also visited three local schools to interact with teachers and students, and experienced day-to-day life in Central America. “It was an overall wonderful experience that I will cherish always,” she says. The trip, she says, put a lot of things in perspective.

“There is so much that we take for granted here,” she says. “We are provided with more than we can imagine to make a difference in the lives of children, and we should be making use of every tool and opportunity we are given to the best of our ability.”

AmandaAkdemir

"I applied to Pace University because I was advised that the School of Education was fabulous and had a great relationship with RCC and that my credits would transfer over very smoothly… I am happy I made the decision to come to Pace."

“Pace has given me a real edge. We have clinical placements early, and we work in the field and in labs far more than what’s required for licensing. That’s where so much of the learning is, and I’m there.”

BrianaVecchione

“I’ve found that I’ve had a ton of support at Pace, and being a woman in computer science hasn’t deterred me in any way.”

AnthonyLeo

Washington. Brussels. Tirana. Studying at Pace doesn’t mean you have to stay in New York. With his prestigious grants and internships, finance student Anthony J. Leo ’15 shows how Pace can turn you into a globetrotter.

BriannaGentilella

“I definitely wanted an education along with pursuing my acting career, and Pace allows for me to have both in my life.”

PaceMart

One year after launch, the founders of the booming Pace Mart talk about their success, the obstacles they faced to get there, and the invaluable lessons they learned along the way.

NicholasWang

“As a student who has dreamed of being a teacher since the first grade, I was looking for a strong and intense education program. Pace offered a combined five-year degree program where I would be able to receive both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years."

JulietteNieves

Commercial dance student and a winner of the 2014-2015 Ted and Pat Levine Proof of Concept Entrepreneurship Initiative Juliette Nieves ’15 is getting down to business to pursue a passion that pays.

GiovanniLemus

Pace student Giovanni “Gio” Lemus ’16 knows what it’s like to live passionately and with purpose. He shares his thoughts on the importance of getting involved, planning for the future, and inspiring the next generation.

CarolynPhillips

From New York to Los Angeles to Rio, Carolyn Phillips’ internship with Special Olympics New York and passion for volunteering and the Olympics is changing her life one game at a time.

MatthewChampagne

“[The Performing Arts Department] is absolutely incredible. It’s why I came to Pace.”

AsherLevine

“I knew how to make clothes, I needed to know accounting, marketing, and all the things fashion school leaves out.”

AlannaMcCatty

Communication Studies student Alanna McCatty is funding her entire Pace education through merit and outside scholarships and shares her tips for landing scholarships, internships, and other opportunities at Pace.

AmitShah

Entrepreneurship student Amit Shah ’16 manages his classes and his own business as the CEO of an international niche staffing company.

De’JaCox

“I always felt that I had to build my life, and the only way to do that was to put myself out there, starting with the resources at Pace.”

JamesOssipov

Thanks to his Pace education, Army veteran and information technology student James Ossipov '15 is on the front lines of fighting cybercrime, one mobile phone at a time.

JenniferCzirr

“Though Teaching Fellows places you at a school, I was lucky to get placed at Pace. The School of Education has been really supportive and really helpful.”

Chinmoy “Rocky”Chakraborty

“The experience, the knowledge, the network—those three factors really [inspired] me to come to the US, specifically New York.”

AlexisMinneo

“Everything that you put in to Pace, that is what you’re going to get out of it.”

MelissaVargas

“I took full advantage of the opportunities offered here at Pace. We have one of the top internship/co-op programs in the nation.”

DantePlush

"When you put a child’s education in my hands, I’m basically saying ‘I’m going to prepare them for you, lawyers; I’m going to prepare them for you, doctors...’ They have to go through me first. And it’s a really big responsibility."

OluwabukolaOyalabu

Oluwabukola Oyalabu ’16 revisits her childhood roots while helping build playgrounds and teaching children the value of sustainability through her Wilson Center Summer Funded Internship at the Trust for Public Land.

MarthaRenteria

"Pace has a very special program that not every school has. Your senior year at Pace you do a preceptorship, which means that rather than go to the hospital in a clinical group…you’re one-on-one with a nurse."

NathalieBorgella

"How many times do you have two campuses in the same school?” she says. “At any other school I couldn’t do that."

JessicaPaskowski

"I chose Pace for its reputable nursing program and was able to have the chance to play Division II Soccer. Not many athletic programs allow student-athletes to pursue a career in nursing while being an athlete but I was lucky to find Pace."

ChristaGray Page

"Winning the Pace Business Plan Competition means that I’m on the right track. It’s exciting and it’s validation—that I wasn’t completely crazy for taking a risk and quitting my corporate job to pursue 50ROOTS.com."

VinnieMonaco

"What keeps me here is definitely the faculty. Early on, I developed a good working relationship with the faculty at Pace and, on top of that, got a good scholarship."

NelliAgbulos

"Being with other students who are just as passionate about these issues…besides being eye-opening, was also a wake-me-up moment."

RaheemLawrence

"I don’t see myself as a success story yet. I’m more of a rough draft of what I expect myself to do later in life."

Kyeong Hun (Christopher)Kang '14

“I knew that I wanted an experience that was not only extraordinary, but life changing.”

BriannaCano

“I chose Pace because they had an outstanding reputation and the Lubin School of Business had so much to offer incoming undecided freshmen.”

AvniKumar

“Career Services was a huge part of me starting off my internships with DeedCast and Sony Corp.”

CristinaTheriault

“Career Services is one of the best services Pace has to offer. I’m not saying that because I worked there. I worked there because of that.”

PatrickMoroney

“The experience that has helped enhance my career development and goals has been the support I received from Pace University as a whole. It changed my entire life.”

DeirdreEmerich

“It isn’t uncommon for students with internships to become hired by the company once the internship ends. I was fortunate enough to have this scenario become a reality for me.”

HeatherSzarka

“I feel like I’ve gotten so much from Pace and my mentor teachers. I’m ready to do this.”

NickBuzzell

"From the moment I came to New York City, I was determined that I would take advantage of everything the city and Pace had to offer. I followed my passion and Dyson was instrumental in helping me figure out how to get where I wanted to go."

JasonGonzalez

“Being an intern while a student means having the freedom to feel secure enough to take professional risks and to explore sectors that you might not have considered as a full-time career choice post-graduation.”

AlexandraOsten

“I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to my internships."

PaigeCecchi

“I was inspired to apply to Pace University after seeing a presentation on the Pace Pitch Contest. It is incredible how almost four years later, I have competed in the competition and came in first place.”

JohnRobb

“I’ve had opportunities [at Pace] that I don’t think I would’ve have had at another school.”

DanAcevedo

"Many of my peers are already chief PAs in their departments. This reflects on the caliber of the program at Pace that teaches character, leadership, and knowledge."

ElenaMarmo

"I wouldn’t be involved in so much if I didn’t love the school; I think it’s so amazing how much we’re able to offer students at our University."

NicoletteNeurauter

"I feel that I have an edge over other students throughout the country. The extensive marketing classes I have taken have truly helped me talk intelligently about my field when interviewing and discussing aspects of the business."

JonathanPrato

"Pace has shown a real commitment to my professional development. I’ve been given the tools to figure out not only what I’d like to do as a profession, but who I’d like to be as a person."

JeremyPease

"The work that I did with Seidenberg Creative Labs and [Professor] Hill while I was at Pace was instrumental in my professional life. It was invaluable to work with real-world clients."

Cathy Kelley

"The professors build you up to become a leader, not a follower. They helped me a lot to be autonomous."

Courtney Novak

"The Media and Communication Video Arts program at Pace University really helped prepare me for life in the very competitive production industry. Coming in, I knew nothing about production, but I learned everything I needed to know, and now I’m an associate producer."

DianaMendez

"I work hard doing what I like to do, which is helping people and communities. If you’re passionate about something, you should go for it… The best thing about being a Pace student is when you work hard, it all pays off."

Chris Gaur

Using his experience opening up an on-campus café, entrepreneur Chris Gaur started a telehealth company, Vital Health Services.

TopazSmith

"I feel that Pace is a school that prepares its students. I’m really glad I took advantage of all the opportunities it afforded me."

AsiaMcDougle-Stamey

"I was accepted into Vanderbilt, but Pace was my first choice because it has such incredible opportunities. I wouldn’t be able to get those opportunities in Dauphin Island. Between conflict analysis research and Model UN, I really think that Pace was the perfect choice for me."

NeilPatel

"Most students don’t get involved in research until their junior year, but at Pace I was able to engage in research at the end of my freshman year, beginning of sophomore year."

ShirleyAcevedo Buontempo

"I am very grateful for the opportunities I’ve received through my Pace education. I realize how an education can change your life. From my marketing undergraduate degree to my MPA in non-profit management, everything I’ve learned at Pace has helped me get to where I am now."

JanelleWallace

Janelle Wallace ’14 aspired to work in the television and film industry. Now, as a graduate student in educational technology, she will have the distinction of publishing in only her first year of graduate study.

RumitMehta

From architecture to entrepreneurship, Rumit Mehta used his MBA in International Business to found one of National Geographic’s top "50 Tours of a Lifetime."

CourtneyBaxter

"My priority was finding a school that would be willing to work with me…and be supportive and understanding."

KristieDash

"How many people can be in school and say they can work at some of the biggest corporations in not even just America, but the world? It’s just crazy to think that coming here as an 18-year-old girl who just wanted to be in New York, my dreams are honestly coming true."

SofyaSternik

"I think that what sets Pace apart is that we know when to study, and we know when to have fun. That balance of working with and enjoying your time with the team, and studying as much as you can, is what makes us great and won us the Lloyd Bromberg Teamwork Award."

KyleTaylor

"The best thing about the program is that it is very involved and very one-on-one, personal. It really helped me figure out what it is that I want to do."

JacquelineKelleher

"I chose to study abroad to immerse myself in a place that is unfamiliar to me, to reflect on my education in America, and to see what other institutions have to offer. Receiving the Gilman Scholarship is a true blessing and I can’t wait to share my experience with my fellow Pace students."

MarkKazinec

"After four years of part-time jobs, internships at leading companies, … and a full load of classes—all while maintaining a GPA above 3.5 in the Honors College—my hard work has finally paid off... I have been offered a position at a leading media and marketing company."

AsadZanjani

"Every year I’ve gotten an internship through Pace University. They’ve been my guidance and my support in my career development here."

CarlySteet

"After only a semester at Pace University in the master’s in Media and Communication Arts program, I landed an internship in the Public Relations Department at Revlon, Inc., one of the world’s top leading makeup brands, in their Manhattan office."

JoannaFranco

"There is a huge advantage when you are coming to school at Pace, and specifically Lubin, because your internship opportunities are endless."

PollyElsey

"Instead of just having lectures in class and going through the textbooks and Powerpoints, Lubin professors really stress the importance of going out to NYC and for us to get a really good handle of what it is to be a young professional within the Hospitality and Tourism industry."

KristhyJimenez

"Every finance company is here in New York, accounting companies, so I thought there are a lot of opportunities here. The companies are constantly coming to Pace to recruit, to look for, students."

DomingoRodriguez

"I came to Lubin primarily because Pace just has this rich history within accounting. The faculty at Lubin have been stupendous."

SpozmiNouri

"Being in NYC, all of the students who attend Pace have so many opportunities presented to them. Several of my internships and job opportunities, I’ve been able to leave Pace and it’s been a 10 minute walk away from the University."

CailanRose

"One of the best parts of this program is that you’re here, you’re in the middle of it. You can do a workshop or a reading and go to school, and take literally what you learned in the classroom and apply it that night."

ValerieCayo

Valerie Cayo '14 has been whetting her app-etite working on two mobile app projects. Hear what little monster app inspires her and words of advice to aspiring developers.

MichaelZini

"Pace statistics speak for themselves. Regarding economic or business majors, Pace University is just the top of the class. This is one of the reasons I chose Pace."

AmyRajan

"Pace University has given me a solid nursing foundation and a diverse range of invaluable experiences, from ICU preceptorships to working at the Henry Street Settlement…. I am truly grateful and proud to be an alumna of the Lienhard School of Nursing."

MatthewKnell

Matthew Knell has spent the last 14+ years designing, developing, marketing, and strategizing at some of the most well-known brands in the country: About.com, AOL, CafeMom, Scholastic, JetBlue, and Viacom.

April Bukofser andMarin Milio

"We dreamed about this in college, we made it come true, and we love what we do. Pace gave both of us a well-rounded base, and we’re using those skills every day in all aspects of the business… Our roots are at Pace and if it wasn’t for Pace, we wouldn’t be here."

DouglasKandl

"When I was a high school student and touring Pleasantville, the Seidenberg academic adviser told me about the program and Pace’s affiliation with the DoD. I came to Pace because of the program and the scholarships it offers."

OpalVadhan

“As a girl who has always had big dreams, Pace has given me the opportunities to make them come true.”

ElissaCasa

"Pace in general has really fostered a lot of work ethic and career opportunities for me that I don’t know if I would have had at other schools. I’m finally starting to see my high school dreams come true. I owe a lot to Dr. Mandel."

LindseySoto

"Most other schools don’t do a five-year program. I saw some schools, but Pace was so much better. You could see that students got jobs after they graduated from Pace."

KevinCheng

"That internship gave me the experience that led me to McGraw-Hill. I was more confident after that internship."

MariaLemmey

"I’ve spoken to other people that are in different nursing programs, and Pace has a very rigorous program, which makes it stand out from the rest. I feel extremely confident that my education at Pace has prepared me for the NCLEX and beginning my career."

SeanGreen

These experiences have greatly influenced my future career plans because I learned that I do not want to be just ‘a number’ in a corporation but I want to matter in the output of the company that I work for.

HannahCherian

"It’s really taking what I’m learning in the textbook and what I’m doing on the job and tying it all together. It’s an integration of the two. I’ve always studied business and IT separately, so to see how they tie together is something that’s huge for me now."

MadisonEmbrey

"Because the faculty at Pace is amazing and they’re working in the industry, it doesn’t feel like there’s a glass wall between myself and a professional career in the performing arts. If I keep putting in the hard work and making connections, it’s going to happen."

AshleySmall

"I fell in love with Pace. UNC only gives its first 10 veterans full aid and then covers 20% of the cost of attendance. Pace gives 100%."

HatsueMasuyama

"Pace allows education majors to have fieldwork experience earlier than many other universities, and it is also one of a few schools that uses the Avatar TeachLivE™ Lab where education majors can practice their classroom skills in a realistic simulation."

JulieGauthier

"I chose Pace because I already had a family at the computer science school before I came in. It was the type of community that I wanted to spend my time in."

JosueVicioso

Taking his childhood passion for toy and LEGO building to the next level, Seidenberg student Josué Vicioso talks about the Seidenberg Creative Labs, his work with the video game inspired adventure gym Exerblast, and more!

News

Pace Enviro Clinic Fights for the Hudson

News

A Pace Environmental Policy Clinic study found that the Coast Guard blocked public access to information in the Hudson Anchorage controversy and students are petitioning the agency to withdraw their proposal to create 43 anchorages for oil barges on the Hudson.

Explore a Program

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Explore a Program

Pace's Master of Public Administration (MPA) will prepare you with the in-depth knowledge of policy, analytical skills, and management expertise to succeed in some of the fastest growing fields in the nation: government, health care, and nonprofit management.

Admission

Transfer Tuesdays

Admission

Thinking about transferring to Pace? Bring your application and supporting documents to accelerated admission days on select Tuesdays (January 10 | March 14 and 18) and we will waive your application fee and provide you with a same-day decision.

News

A Peek Inside Pace Magazine

News

From a new era at Pace to a new generation poised to change the world, this issue of Pace Magazine introduces you to the environmental pioneers, documentary filmmakers, alumni mentors, cybersecurity experts, and Generation Z making an impact at Pace and beyond.

Event

An Evening with Tom Rush: December 9

Event

On Friday, December 9, folk legend Tom Rush, who left his stamp on generations of artists including James Taylor and Garth Brooks, takes the Schimmel stage alongside internationally touring singer Matt Nakoa and Grammy-nominated Seth Glier.

Student Success

Making His Marc in Management

Student Success

During his time at Pace, Marc Rinosa ’17 has challenged the conventions of the business world, led the Student Government Association as Executive President, and has strived to establish recruitment channels for diverse and under-represented students on campus.

News

Student and Faculty at the United Nations

News

“Education can help empower the greater participation of youth, women, survivors of violence, and people from the Global South in peace and security policymaking,” said Rachel Salcedo '17 at the UN. Professor Emily Welty, PhD, also delivered a speech on nuclear weapons.

News

Pace Opens First NYC Design Factory

News

Pace opened the first-ever Design Factory Global Network (DFGN) institute in NYC, only the second DFGN hub in the United States and the eleventh in the world. This collaboration connects Pace students with companies all over the world to provide creative solutions to real, design-based problems.

Virtual Tour

A Peek Inside the Pleasantville Campus

Virtual Tour

A close-knit collegiate campus lifestyle with access to all the dynamic professional and cultural opportunities in the New York metro area. Pace's newly revitalized, 200-acre Pleasantville Campus gives students the best of both worlds. Take a virtual tour right now!

News

PIX11 Features Pace Student Veterans

News

As part of a series featuring Pace student veterans, PIX11 interviewed U.S. Army Reservist Jonathan Rosario, who is currently pursuing a degree in IT and cybersecurity with 100% tuition coverage through the Post-9/11 GI Bill and getting help for his PTSD at Pace.

News

Among the Top 25 Drama Schools

News

Both the Pace School of Performing Arts and The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University made The Hollywood Reporter’s 2016 list of the 25 best undergraduate drama schools and 25 best drama schools for an MFA.

Video

Watch Pace's Documentary on Cuba

Video

Watch the Pace student-produced documentary "Cuba’s Crossroads–Hope, Rock, and [R]Evolution”, which premiered at the Jacob Burns Film Center and was featured on the New York Times "Dot Earth" blog and WABC-TV's Tiempo.

News

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law

News

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University celebrated its renaming at a community event on May 13. The Haub family's gift, the largest in Pace history, will establish an endowment, strengthen our premier environmental law program, and fund teaching initiatives.

Award

A Princeton Review "Best in the Northeast"

Award

Pace University has been named a “Best in the Northeast” institution by the Princeton Review. Part of the "2016 Best Colleges: Region by Region," the Princeton Review rankings recognize only 25% of the nation's four-year colleges.

Video

Clinicals at Pace University

Video

"The best and the brightest" is how one Chief Nursing Officer describes Pace's Lienhard School of Nursing students. Hear students, hospital executives, and alumni describe their clinical experiences through Lienhard at hospitals in the New York metro area.

Academics

Pace Undergraduate Majors at a Glance

Academics

undergraduate majors and combined degree programs. From acting to arts and entertainment management, forensic science to health science, explore your interests and talents and choose a degree that's right for you.